Enamel-burning fixture



June 13,1933. J. wlNKLER ENAMEL BURNING FIXTURE Filed July 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l (1b/tommy June 13, 1933. J, wlNKLr-:R

ENAMEL BURNING FIXTURE Filed July 25, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .lune 13, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN WINKLER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO OI-IIO FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF

CLEVELAND. OHIO ENAMEL-BURNING FIXTURE Application filed July 25, 1930. Serial No. 470,686.

My invention pertains to a so-called fixture adapted to serve as a support for enamel coated articles during oven drying or fur nace burning.

Such fixtures or supports should obviously have sharp point contact with the freshly coated articles which they are to support so as to displace or remove the minimum possi ble amount of surface color. It has long been standard practice to employ rails with crossbars provided with upstanding pointed prongs, but in the case of cup-shaped articles,

as for instance tubs for washing machines, it is very important to avoidwarpage during burning. 1f the bottom of the tub warps in either direction it will not properly fit its supporting mechanism. If the upper rim of the tub becomes distorted or warped, it will preclude a water tight tting with its cover. Pronged rings have also been employed, but

their single circular row of prongs were too far inwardly from the annular lower edge of the tub to prevent distortion there during burning and were too far from the central portion of the bottom to prevent its warpage during burning.

My invention comprehends varying designs of fixtures all adapted to the particular type of tub bottom which they are intended to support, yet all include the common feature of a spider design whereby additional prongs may upstand nearer the central portions of the fixtures, depending upon the size, and the formation of the tub bottoms. The fixtures include anv outer ring of prongs adapted to contact the bottom of the tub very near its periphery and also include a central arrangement of prongs suited -to the bottom of the tub and of Varying height if a central area of the tub bottom is offset so that they will maintain the desired offset central area during burning. Many of the tubs are provided With a central opening in their bottoms and for use with that type my new design of xture carries a central upstanding bushing fitted to such opening. In short, the purpose of my fixture is to support those portions of the tubs which require support during burning in order to avoid warping, or other distortion and to insure that the desired shape adapted for supporting freshly enameled receptacles and embodying one form of my invention.

Figure 2 is mainly a diametrical sectional view of' the fixture shown in Figure 1, also showing in diamctrical section a wash machine tub carried thereby.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of fixture embodying my invention.

Figure l is a diametrical sectional View of Figure 3 in conjunction with a supported receptacle to which its design adapted.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a second modification.

Figure 6 is a View corresponding to Figures 1 and 4 showing the fixture of Figure 5 in its functionating relationship to a wash tub having a differently formed bottom.

The form of my invention, as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a base ring 1 on the margin of which are a series of circumferentially arranged upstanding prongs 2 of equal height. The tops of the prongs 2 are approximately knive-edged, as clearly indicated in Figure 1. also comprises an integral spider construction in which the spokes or we-bs 3 rise as they converge toward the integral central hub or web' This design of fixture -webs 17.

section 8 and a raised annular section 9 provided wth a central opening 10 through which some supporting part of wash machine mechanism will ultimately project. As has been earlier emphasized, ,it is very important to prevent warpage or distortion of wash machine tubs during the burning of their enamel coatings, wherefore, each tub should be definitely and adequately supported at needful places on points or hair lines according to its peculiar formation. It will be observed that the prongs 2 support the outer margin of the tub and that the prongs 7 support the raised portion 9 of the bottom. The bushing 5 meanwhile projects through the opening 10 to center and prevent displacement.

The modification of Figures 3 and 4 discloses a fixture comprising an outer annular ring 11 carrying circumferentially arranged pointed prongs 12, a concentric inner ring 13 carries six upstanding circumferentially arranged prongs 14, the rings 11 and 13 being connected by four webs 15 to achieve a spider construction. It is to be noticed that the webs 15 lie in the same planes as the rings-11 and 13 instead of sloping upwardly. A central bushing 16 is carried by four additional This type of iixture is suited to the proper support of a tub 18 having a bottom 19 slightly bowed downwardly and centrally tashionedwith an opening 20 through which the bushing 16 projects. Obviously, the prongs 12 are again to support the outermost margin of the tub, whereas the prongs 14 are to support the depressed centrally located section of the bottom.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the fixture comprises an outer ring 2 carrying upstanding circumferentially arranged prongs 22 (called prongs even though not pointed), comprises also four radial webs 23, each carrying an upstanding prong 24 near its inner end. The webs 23 support fl smaller ring 25 from which project upwardly four equi-spaced centering pins 26. This type of fixture has been commercially adapted for a type of tub 27 comprising a larger annular bottom margin 28 and a relatively depressed bottom section 29 provided with four openings 30, which are correspondingly arranged as are the pins 2G so that the latter project therethrough when the tub 27 is properly rested upon this modified fixture.

I claim:

1. A fixture of the class described, comprising two series of projecting prongs, the prongs of one series being at a different elevation than those of the other series.

2. A fixture of the class described, comprising a spider including a ring, a central structure, connections between said ring and structure and upstanding prongs on both ring and structure.

3. A fixture of the class described, comprising a spider including a ring, an elevated color-coated article provided with an aperture,

comprising a spider including an upstanding extension adapted to project through said aperture and upstanding projections adapted to engage said article around said aperture.

6. In combination for use in supporting a color-coated cup-shaped article having an uneven bottom provided with an aperture, comprising a fixture including an upstand-A ing extension adapted to project through said aperture and upstanding projections of varying height adapted to engage portions of varying elevation of said article respectively around said aperture.

7. A fixture of the class described, comprising a series of projecting prongs and a central projection extending from said fixture in the same direction as said prongs.

8. A fixture of the class described, comprising two concentric series of projecting prongs, the pro'ngs of one series being at a different elevation than those of theother series and a central projection extending from said fixture in the same direction as said prongs.

Signed by lne, this 10th day of July, 1930.

JOHN WINKLER. 

